SUPERMARKETS have been challenged to do everything in their power to reduce the amount of packaging on their products and help the environment.

Llandudno Junction councillor Mike Priestley, Conwy’s cabinet member for the environment, is pleading with the county’s chain stores to help reduce the amount of waste damaging the environment.

Many large supermarket stores offer various recycling schemes as well as a points bonus for using your own plastic carrier bags. But Cllr Priestley still feels more can be done in the battle against global warming.

“Supermarkets have a massive responsibility, everyone can help but supermarkets more than anyone can make a massive impact to help reduce global warming,” said Cllr Priestley.

“So I am challenging every supermarket in the county of Conwy to reduce the amount of packaging. “Apples for instance are packed now in trays and shrink wrapped. They don’t need to be, apples can be weighed and put in a small plastic bag which can then be used again. I was in a sports shop the other day and I heard somebody telling the assistant they didn’t want the shoebox – it makes sense because why would you need the box.

“Supermarkets need to reduce packaging and offer award schemes however small even if is just pennies for bags.”

Local authorities are already heavily penalised for using landfill sites and the Government is desperate to cut down on rubbish buried under-ground at sites such as Llanddulas, which will be full in a matter of years. By 2009, the Assembly could fine councils who don’t meet recycling targets by as much as £200 for every ton they bury.

Cllr Emlyn Thomas is the chairman of the Environment Scrutiny Committee and backed Cllr Priestley’s stance.

“We simply can not afford to keep filling up the land with waste,” he said.

“The council has massive energy bills, people must remember to turn lights off, you walk into council offices the lights are on and nobody is there.”